Virginia Wetherell

For the American politician and businesswoman, see Virginia Bass Wetherell.

Virginia Wetherell
Wetherell as a Bride of Dracula in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1974)
Born (1943-05-09) 9 May 1943 (age 81)
Farnham, Surrey
England
OccupationActress
Years active1963–1998
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1973; died 1991)​

Virginia Wetherell (born 9 May 1943), also known as Virginia Bates, is an English actress and vintage clothing expert. As an actress she is known for her roles in Hammer horror films. She has acted in films and television programmes from the 1960s to the 1990s; her peak period as an actress was the '60s and early '70s. From 1971 onwards she had a career owning and running a successful vintage clothing store, Virginia, in Holland Park in London. She has been described as 'the doyenne of London fashion' by The Times.[1]

Acting career

Wetherell's film appearances include The Big Switch (1968), Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968), The Other People (1968), Man of Violence (1969), Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971),[2] Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971) and Demons of the Mind (1972), Disciple of Death (1972) and the TV film Dracula (1974).

On television, she was a regular cast member in The Troubleshooters as Julie Serres, and played Dyoni in the Doctor Who serial The Daleks.[3][4]

Vintage fashion career

Wetherell ran a vintage clothing shop, Virginia, at 98 Portland Road in Holland Park for 42 years, from 1971 to 2013.[5] Her shop attracted customers from the fashion, film and theatrical industries: visitors to the shop and customers included singers Barbra Streisand and Madonna, actors such as Nicole Kidman, models such as Helena Christensen, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Susie Cave, and fashion designers such as John Galliano, Donatella Versace, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Alberta Ferretti, who took inspiration from her vintage clothes.[5][6][7][8][9] Virginia was also a source of rare vintage clothing for museum curators.[10]

Wetherell was named the "54th most important person in fashion" in an early 2000s industry poll, placed above such names as Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Ozwald Boateng.[7] She has been described as 'the doyenne of London fashion' by The Times.[1]

Wetherell was interviewed, as Virginia Bates, about the shop and vintage clothing in ITV4's television presentation of the 2024 Goodwood Revival, broadcast on 18 September 2024.[9]

Fashion writing

As Virginia Bates, Wetherell wrote a fashion blog for British Vogue.[11] In 2012 she co-authored a book on 1920's fashion with her daughter Daisy Bates: Jazz Age Fashion: Dressed to Kill.

Personal life

Wetherell was married to actor Ralph Bates from 1973 until his death from pancreatic cancer in 1991. They had two children, Daisy and Will.[12] Wetherell is a trustee of the Ralph Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

In December 2018 Wetherell was attacked in Paris during the riots.[1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1963 The Partner Karen
Ricochet Brenda
That Kind of Girl Virginia (Eva's friend in nightclub) Uncredited
West 11 Unknown Uncredited
1966 Alfie Girl on park bench Uncredited
1968 The Big Switch Karen
The Other People Girl at Airport
Curse of the Crimson Altar Eve
1969 Man of Violence Gale
1971 Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde Betsy Uncredited
A Clockwork Orange Stage Actress
1972 Demons of the Mind Inge
Disciple of Death Ruth
1998 Love Is the Devil Person in the Colony Room Club

Television

Year Title Role Episode(s)
1964 Doctor Who Dyoni Season 1: (5 episodes)
Detective Susan Carmichael Season 1, episode 10: "Subject: Murder"
No Hiding Place Selma Season 6, episode 16: "The Carrion Bird"
Crossroads Heather Gurney Unknown
1966 The Man in Room 17 Martita Season 2, episode 1: "How to Rob a Bank and Get Away with it"
1967 The Troubleshooters Julie Serres Season 3: (9 episodes)
Solarnauts Unknown TV Short
1968 Mr. Rose Catherine Season 3, episode 1: "The Less Than Iron Duke"
1971 Paul Temple Francoise Season 3, episode 8: "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?"
Play for Today Christine Season 2, episode 5: " Thank You Very Much"
1974 Dracula Dracula's Wife TV movie
The Protectors Nurse Season 2, episode 20: "Route 27"
1976 Barney's Last Battle Young Woman TV movie
1983 The Gentle Touch Elaine Decker Season 4, episode 14: "Who's Afraid of Josie Tate"
1985 Minder Debbie Moore Season 6, episode 7: "Minder on the Orient Express"
2001 Once Upon a Time In Europe Herself TV documentary
2024 Goodwood Revival Herself TV documentary

References

  1. ^ a b c Sean O'Neill (13 December 2018). "Paris rioters kick and beat Virginia Bates, doyenne of London fashion". Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  2. ^ "A Clockwork Orange at 40". 8 January 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Mogul / Troubleshooters Main Page". www.startrader.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Doctor Who: S1". www.aveleyman.com. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b Scarlett Kilcooley-O'Halloran (18 October 2013). "Virginia Bates Closes Her Shop". Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  6. ^ Kristen Bateman (28 August 2015). "An Ode to Virginia Bates' Vintage Emporium". Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b "After a career dressing up, Virginia Bates began to share her individual style. It took the world 30 years to catch up". 17 April 2004. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  8. ^ Moda Lisa (1 August 2016). "Nick Cave's muse launches own fashion label aptly titled 'The Vampire's Wife'". Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Goodwood Revival". ITV television. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  10. ^ Penguin Random House Canada (23 October 2012). "Dressed to Kill". Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Virginia Bates". Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  12. ^ Mangos, Anthony (13 October 2018). "'Ralph Bates: A Biography' Sheds a Bright Light on a Beloved Actor - Diabolique Magazine". Retrieved 20 September 2024.